So, are your bags already packed and you’re ready to go? Have plans of spending your holidays in Goa? But you’re not sure if you’ve got everything you need. Well then let us help you have the best time you can have while in Goa. Here's a checklist to get you ready for the sunshine state.
- Visa for Goa i.e. India
- Seasons and Weather
- Book Accommodation
- Explore on two-wheels
- Savour Goan cuisine
- Get active
India doesn’t offer a visa free entry or a visa on arrival so all foreign nationals planning to visit India must apply for a visa. You can find further information about how to apply on the Indian High Commission website: www.hci.gov.in or you can directly apply for an eVisa: www.ivisa.com
It is necessary you get the right visa for your travel and make sure it is valid for the purpose and duration of your stay. By chance if you enter India on the wrong visa, you could be detained on arrival and you may be deported and blacklisted which means that you can’t enter India again. Make sure you meet all the entry requirements. In India, business visas can’t be extended.
The best time to visit Goa is between October to March. This is the time when Goa has a clear and beautiful weather with cool sea breeze blowing through your hair. Avoid visiting Goa in summers which is from March to May. The temperature during this time is sizzling hot and can cross 40 Degrees Celsius. However, the sea breeze provides relief to the heat but tourist activities are less during this time.
For all you rain lovers out there, Goa gets even more beautiful during the rains which is from June to September. However, the perfect weather to enjoy Goa is during winters which is from mid-December until February.
Goa has over 101km of tropical beaches, each area of Goa and beach has a different feel and attracts different sorts of travellers. There are places to stay in Goa to suit all budgets and types of travellers. From glamorous and luxurious resorts to boutique hotels, private villas, basic beach huts, heritage villas, yoga retreats and Portuguese mansions.
The first thing you have to decide on is which area of Goa you want to base yourself. South Goa is quieter whereas North Goa is busier and popular where the parties, markets and all the action is. There is a huge variety of accommodation options to suit all budgets in North and South Goa.
The best way to see the sights and soak up everything India’s smallest state has to offer is on a bike or scooter. Hiring a motorcycle in Goa is easy and cheap enough. The roads in the state are well-maintained and safe, so biking around isn’t a hassle.
Make it a point to carry your driving license with you. Helmets are mandatory, so make sure to get one along with your bike. Also, make sure you have all the required documents of the vehicle you rent. If you are a foreign national, an International Driving License would be required to drive or ride. Traffic circulation in India is on the left side, foreign nationals who are not habitual to drive on the left side should opt for taxis. And for those who aren’t confident enough riding around on a two-wheeler and are uncomfortable with right hand drive can always choose to rent a car.
Goan cuisine is a rich amalgamation of traditional Konkani ingredients and Portuguese cooking styles and recipes. So, on your trip to this enchanting beach town, do savour the Goan cuisine by trying dishes such as the Goan fish curry with rice, Pork Vindaloo, Sorpotel, Crab Xec Xec, Chicken Cafreal, Chicken Xacuti etc. Finish your meal with the delicious Bebinca as dessert.
Goa is not only known for its white sand beaches, nightlife, places of worship and heritage architecture but it is also known for its seafood. Fresh seafood items make some of the tastiest dishes you would like to enjoy while in Goa. If you have a sensitive stomach or not used to spicy food, don’t indulge in it.
While many visitors are drawn to the beaches, this certainly doesn’t represent the state in its whole. Usually, the first thing people visiting Goa would do is, visit centuries old churches and temples, museums, forts, spice plantations, caves, wildlife sanctuaries etc.
But there’s lots more to do here than just that – go scuba diving, jet skiing, kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing, banana ride, power-scooter riding, knee-wakeboarding etc, or take some yoga experiences from one of the many yoga retreats available up and down the coastline. Goa is a perfect spot for trying all this stuff and do not leave without ticking a few of them off your list.